20210911 Questions & Answers

The following is a Question and Answer Session from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.11.11-12) class given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on September 11th, 2021 in Śrī Māyāpur, India.

Bhakti Vijaya Bhagavata Swami: Hare Kṛṣṇa! Very enlightening class. There is Yamadūta, drama, how Jagannatha came Himself to our temple, and Mahaprabhu’s Vrndavana visit. Many devotees, they asked me how to celebrate Radhastami, because Srila Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura said radha bhajane Jodi rati nahi hela, Kṛṣṇa Bhajana akarana gela – so if you please Kṛṣṇa, you please Radharani. So please guide us how devotees in their homes, somebody has Deities, somebody has only photos, how to celebrate Radhastami and please Radharani and Kṛṣṇa and get love of Kṛṣṇa easily?

Jayapataka Swami: If you have a Deity of Radharani, then you can perform Radha Kṛṣṇa abhisheka. If you have a photo, you can pour water in front of the photo. You can read Kṛṣṇa Book, chapters where Radharani is in love of Kṛṣṇa.

HH Bhakti Vijaya Bhagavata Maharaja: What prasada should we accept – anukalpa or grain? Many devotees are also asking.

Jayapataka Swami: Anna prasada. We asked Śrīla Prabhupāda for Kṛṣṇa we have to fast till midnight and have anukalpa. Why for Radharani only fast till noon and have grain? He said, Radharani is more merciful. Haribol! Haribol! Jaya Radhe!

Bengali: Pankaja Carana dasa, Noakali, Bangladesh: Sometimes when devotees are under the guidance of some counsellor and the counsellor reprimands or gives some punishment to those who are under him, and sometimes it happens that those devotees who are under the counsellor, they revolt against the counsellor and they make a revolution. So in such case, what should be the mentality of the devotees who are under a counsellor?

Jayapataka Swami: Do you remember the story how Daksa had committed offences against Lord Siva? There in the purport it is explained that in this way getting punished, the punishment was beneficial for him. Otherwise, he would have committed the same mistake again and again. Of course, Lord Siva was so powerful that He could bring him back to life. So I don’t know what shasti, punishment given by the counsellor. Wonder whether it was appropriate or not? But assuming it was appropriate, the person should be grateful. Maybe if we can ask to explain our mistake, if we don’t understand why we are being punished. One more question.

Bhakta Dhruva, aspiring disciple: Balaramadesh: If we commit sinful activities in the dhama, will it be automatically erased because we are in the dhama? I mean, by the potency of the dhama?

Jayapataka Swami: You see if you commit some sinful act on the strength of being in the dhama, that is an offence. Just like the seventh offence of the holy name – committing offence on the strength of chanting the holy name. But if just accidentally we commit some sin, then by doing some devotional service, then it could be wiped out.